The farmer planned to build a silage pit, dung pit, effluent tank and cattle shed, but there was one significant complication: the construction site sat within the protected zone of the Kilmonaster Passage Tomb cemetery, with the nearest ancient monument just five metres from where the containment tank would go. Before any building work could begin, the site needed archaeological testing to ensure no hidden heritage would be destroyed.

The archaeological team, led by Richard Crumlish from County Mayo, dug three test trenches across the proposed development area in July 2005. The trenches, ranging from 16 to 36 metres in length, revealed layers of topsoil, fill material, grey-brown silt loam, and orange-brown sandy soil before hitting bedrock. Whilst the excavation uncovered modern pottery sherds and a single worked flint in the topsoil, along with some calf bones about 30 centimetres down, these findings weren’t unexpected. The landowner had already mentioned that livestock had been buried along the old field boundary over the years, explaining the animal remains.

Despite the site’s proximity to the ancient passage tomb complex, the archaeological testing revealed no significant prehistoric features or artefacts that would prevent the farm development from proceeding. The stray flint find in the topsoil wasn’t surprising given the nearby monuments, but represented an isolated discovery rather than evidence of substantial archaeological deposits. With the testing complete and recorded under excavation licence 05E0801, the farmer received clearance to proceed with construction, adding another layer to the long history of agricultural use in this corner of Donegal, where modern farming continues alongside ancient monuments.